EXCLUSIVE
sympathy
Chris Woakes leading England’s bowling attack ‘not fair’, says Steve Harmison, who ‘feels sorry’ for seamer in Antigua
Steve Harmison expressed his sympathy for Chris Woakes, saying that it was 'not fair' on the seam-bowling all-rounder that he was put in the position to lead the attack in the absence of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Opening the bowling on day two of the first Test, Woakes experienced one of his worst days with the ball as his first three overs went for 23 runs, with Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell both punishing his wavering lines and lengths.
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By the end of the day’s play, Woakes had bowled 12 overs and taken just one wicket at the cost of 54 runs.
“It’s as tough as I’ve seen Chris Woakes have a day with the red-ball from a consistency point of view," Harmison said on talkSPORTS 2's commentary of the Test in Antigua.
"He’s bowled both sides of the wicket and I don’t mind him bowling straight but the last couple he’s been too legside and it’s been an easy clip off the legs for the West Indian batsman.”
Ahead of the series, Woakes admitted that he feared being dropped after a disastrous Ashes series in which he took just six wickets in three matches at an average of 55.33.
It furthered concerns about his contrasting home and away records which sees him average 22.63 with the ball at home, but 52.38 away.
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Woakes’ struggles with the ball in Antigua have been compounded by a lifeless pitch.
“We can’t hide from the fact that it’s a very very difficult surface for the seam bowlers," Harmison added.
"But you’ve still got to find a way, bowling both sides of the wicket and ill-discipline is not something that should happen too much in international cricket. But we are all humans.
“I feel sorry for Chris Woakes, because there’s a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders coming into this series for the simple fact that there was all the talk of Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, all the talk of Chris Woakes is going to have to lead the attack.
"Well, I don’t think in Woakes’ red ball career, I don’t think he was in a position to lead the attack, I don’t think that was fair on him and I think that showed.”
Uninterrupted ball-by-ball coverage of the West Indies vs England tour is live on talkSPORT 2 this month. Stay across the action in the first Test on our dedicated stream page here.
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